Maruoka Castle

交通信息

Oldest Real Castles in Japan

Maruoka Castle (丸岡城), aka Kasumiga Castle, is one of 12 existed remaining castles which built in Sengoku era. It is a hilltop castle located Sakai, Fukui Pref. It was built in 1576 by Shibata Katsutoyo, nephew of Katsuie. It is the oldest castle which exists in Japan. Because the building was built in Azuchi-Momoyama Period, it is designated as the national important assets.

旅游详情介绍

The structure of Tenshukaku is 2 layers 3 stories. It is the same style of Inuyama Castle and Kochi Castle (both are also remaining castles). It represents the architectures of Sengoku period well, especially, it has strong aspects of Kecho era. Stone walls are taking Nozura style, which has many spaces between each stones for water drainage. Those stones are also original structures.

HistoryIn 1576, Shibata Katsuie, the general of Oda Nobunaga, ordered his nephew Katsutoyo to built a castle at this place.

In 1583, Shibata was lost by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, this land became the land of Niwa Nagahide, and he ordered Aoyama Yoshikatsu.

After the battle of Sekigahara, Entire Echizen became the land of Yuki Hideyasu, the son of Tokugawa Ieyasu, and he gave this castle to his samurai Imamura Moritsugu, and later Onda Narishige became the lord of this castle.

It was destroyed at Fukui Great Earthquake in 1948. In 1955, it was reconstructed with mostly original materials.

It is also one of 100 best Sakura spots and 100 best castles in Japan.